You're logging in with Twitter

You're logging in with Google+

fifa.memberlogin

Link
your FIFA.com account

Screen Name

The email address/password you submitted is wrong or
could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club,
please register first.

The email address/password you submitted is wrong or
could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club,
please register first.

This Facebook account is already present

Your Club account has been locked due to a breach of our
Terms of Service. Please set up a new account in line with the Club rules.
Review the Club Rules. Alternatively, you can
email us by completing our contact form.

Please enter a valid email address

The email address/password you submitted is wrong or
could not be found. Please try again. If you are not a member of the FIFA.com Club,
please register first.

The basic techniques

Introduction

Ball control is the foundation for all aspects of the game and a source of motivation for young players because it feels good to be at ease with the ball.

The ability to control the ball is the key to many other skills, and juggling is also a very good way to practise ball control, getting familiar with the ball and gaining confi dence. Generally speaking, it is not difficult to master a technical skill, but it does become harder as the game conditions change.

Therefore, a player can only master the technique of controlling the ball if he coordinates the various parts of his/ her body. Furthermore, the learning aspect depends on the number of repetitions, whereas there are various combinations available in terms of the method to be used.

As a young player develops, his/her technical skills will set the foundations for good development and enable him/her to experience all of the joy that football can bring.

In grassroots football, the basic techniques can be divided into four categories:

Controlling the ball

Running with the ball

Passing the ball

Shooting

1. Controlling the ball

Controlling

To control the ball is to master it. Properly controlling the ball means that a move will be successful. The control movements to focus on are: directed control and gathering the ball while moving – these introduce speed into the play.

Juggling

If repeated regularly, juggling develops the skills of dexterity, coordination and balance in young footballers. These skills favour the more rapid acquisition of other techniques.

2. Running with the ball

Running with the ball

This is how an individual moves in free space with the ball. When a player is running well with the ball, he/she is in control of it at all times: this requires good balance and excellent stability. Running with the ball while keeping the head up allows a continuous flow of information to be received and allows movement to be adapted to play.

Dribbling

This is how an individual moves with the ball when faced by opponents/obstacles. Dribbling allows the player in possession of the ball to eliminate one or more opponents by:

making a manoeuvre and taking individual risks;

setting up a team move;

gaining time to allow support from team-mates;

deceiving an opponent (the concept of the feint).

3. Passing the ball

This is the action of giving the ball to a team-mate. It is an essential part of team play. As the core of the game, passing allows a team to:

keep possession of the ball;

set up attacks;

change the direction of play;

counter-attack;

provide a decisive or final pass.

Crosses are a type of short or long pass, usually leading to a shot. They serve as the last pass.

4. Shooting

4. Shooting

This is an action with the objective of dispatching the ball into the opponent’s goal. It is the logical conclusion, the culmination of an attack. It is what football is all about. Shooting requires technical qualities (striking the ball well, accuracy), physical qualities (power, coordination, balance) and mental qualities (determination, audacity, self-confidence).